Scientists and Tourism Leaders Unite to Preserve Beautiful Bacalar Lagoon
Photographs by Sarah Fassold: @sarahfassold
A “Conferencia del Agua” — or Water Conference — brought together hotel owners, local officials, environmental activists, and others concerned about the health and sustainability of the famed Bacalar Lagoon.
The conference, at Centro Holístico Akalkí, opened with remarks from Bacalar’s mayor. The mayor emphasized the lagoon’s importance to the region’s tourism industry and cultural identity and noted that decisions made during the conference could significantly impact Bacalar’s future development.
The main presentation featured Dr. Alex Ling, an astrophysicist, and Mercury Amarilis, a microbiologist. They delivered an informative session that connected the cosmic origins of water with Bacalar’s ancient stromatolites. Dr. Ling explained how water molecules formed in space billions of years ago. Amarilis described the stromatolites as living fossils that have existed for over 3.5 billion years but are now threatened by environmental changes.
Dr. Ling also introduced the “Laboratorio Comunitario del Agua” (Community Water Laboratory), a new educational initiative in downtown Bacalar. The laboratory was designed to help locals and tourists understand the lagoon’s ecosystem through exhibits and educational activities.
Bacalar Lagoon Preservation is Essential
The second day focused on practical solutions. Hotel owners participated in workshops about sustainable tourism practices, and environmental engineers presented water treatment systems specifically designed for Bacalar’s ecosystem.
Participants contributed the suggested donation of MX$250 per day or MX$450 pesos for both days. After the event, organizers published a financial report showing operational costs had been covered, with excess funds donated to a local initiative dedicated to protecting Laguna Bacalar.
The conference concluded with a commitment to collaborative action. Dr. Ling emphasized the importance of protecting the lagoon for future generations. Many attendees visited the newly established Community Water Laboratory afterward, indicating ongoing interest in the initiative.
The event achieved its planned objectives of raising awareness about the lagoon’s environmental challenges and developing collaborative solutions among different community stakeholders.
The Turquoise Jewel in Peril
Nestled in Mexico’s southern Quintana Roo state, Bacalar Lagoon has captivated humans for millennia with its striking blue waters. The ancient Maya called it “Sian Ka’an Bakhalal” — the place surrounded by reeds where the sky is born. This 42-kilometer freshwater lagoon, often called the “Lake of Seven Colors” for its spectacular gradient of blues, formed over thousands of years atop a limestone foundation.
Pre-Columbian Maya settlements flourished along its shores, using the lagoon for transportation and sustenance. By the 16th century, Spanish colonizers recognized its strategic importance, building Fort San Felipe in 1733 to protect against pirate incursions. For centuries, the region remained relatively untouched, with the lagoon’s stromatolites — rare, ancient microbial communities dating back 3.5 billion years — thriving in its pristine waters.
Today, however, Bacalar faces unprecedented environmental threats. The region’s explosion in tourism since the early 2000s has brought development without adequate infrastructure. Hotels and residences often discharge untreated wastewater directly into the groundwater that feeds the lagoon. Agricultural expansion has introduced fertilizers and pesticides that disrupt the delicate ecosystem.
Climate change compounds these challenges. Increasing temperatures alter water chemistry, while more frequent and intense hurricanes erode shorelines and stir sediment that smothers the delicate stromatolites. In 2020, Hurricane Cristobal triggered a devastating algal bloom that temporarily turned parts of the once-turquoise waters brown.
Perhaps most alarming is the rapid urbanization without proper planning. Bacalar’s population has more than doubled since 2000, outpacing sewage treatment capacity. Many new developments operate with inadequate septic systems that leak into the groundwater.
Conservation efforts have emerged in response. Local NGOs monitor water quality, while some hotels adopt eco-friendly practices. Government initiatives to expand protected areas show promise, though enforcement remains inconsistent.
Bacalar stands at a crossroads. Without immediate, comprehensive action, this ecological and historical treasure — with waters reflecting countless human stories across millennia — risks becoming another paradise lost to short-sighted development.
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